VI. Online freedom and safety

The phenomenon of hate speech calls into question some of the most fundamental principles on which societies are built. The answers each society has developed to balance between freedom of expression and respect for equality and dignity have created unique rifts and alliances at the international level. Hate speech as a concept has also been contested as too wide-ranging and open to manipulation, and narrower conceptions, including “dangerous speech” and “fear speech”, have been advanced to focus on the ability of speech to cause harm and lead to violent outcomes.

In national and international frameworks and legislations, hate speech refers to expressions that advocate incitement to harm (particularly, discrimination, hostility or violence) based upon the target’s being identified with a certain social or demographic group. It may include, but is not limited to, speech that advocates, threatens, or encourages violent acts. For some, however, the concept extends also to expressions that foster a climate of prejudice and intolerance on the assumption that this may fuel targeted discrimination, hostility and violent attacks.
 
Key entry points on this topic include (but are not limited to) the following:

• How does youth react to online hate speech?
• Are youth equipped to understand online hate speech?
• What is the role of civil society organizations and intermediaries for countering online hate speech?
• What are the experiences of young women on the internet? How is gender translated or targeted in online spaces?
• Has technology created new forms of gender-based violence? How can we tackle online gender-based violence?